Thirty years ago today the Native Title Act became law, the stated goal being to uplift and enrich indigenous communities. This was a case of good intentions at odds with history. Earlier, after the Gurindjis gained title, they swapped life and work on a productive cattle station for welfare, and they were not alone. By 1990, 30 other stations had also been abandoned, as Quadrant reported in 2012
The NT intervention initiated by the Coalition government of John Howard, with the bipartisan support of the Labor Party, demonstrates all too clearly the regressive agenda of both the Yes and No camps in the current Voice referendum.
Galarrwuy Yunupingu: Lord of the Manor – Quadrant Online quadrant.org.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from quadrant.org.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.